6 ways to fire-proof your house this winter

Posted 14 May, 2020 Jeremy Rochow

Rain clouds are gathering, the mercury is dropping and we’re preparing to light the fire or switch on the heater.   Many of us are social distancing, which means we’re spending a lot more time at home than we usually would. If you’re working from home, you might be plugging in more electrical items than usual, including your heater.   Maybe you’ve turned to hobbies like baking or cooking to pass the time. All of this could bring with it some fire hazards. Here are a few tips to make sure your house is safe from fire this winter.  

1. Don’t get burnt by your heater

It’s likely you’ll be using your heater more than ever this winter if you’re working from home or self-isolating. However, heaters can be dangerous if they’re not used properly. In fact, between 2014 and 2018, the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and Country Fire Service (CFS) battled 139 house fires linked to heaters and open fires.   If you’ve got a heater installed in your home, make sure it’s in good working order and get it serviced before more cold weather arrives. Portable heaters need to be checked as well. Make sure yours isn’t faulty and the power plug is still in good working order.

If you’re concerned about the condition of the heater, it might be a good idea to purchase a new one.

  Look for a heater that has a timer and will turn off after a certain period. You can also find one that’ll automatically turn off if knocked over. One of the leading causes of home heater fires is items like beds sheets, clothes and curtains catching alight. Keep anything flammable at least 2 metres away from the appliance. If you’re leaving the house, make sure the heater is turned off.  

2. Get a chimney sweep

You might think chimney sweeps are from a bygone era – maybe you envisage Mary Poppins and chimney sweep Bert dancing through London. However, if you have a fireplace instead of a heater, you’ll need a chimney sweep to clean your flue or chimney at least once a year before winter. They’ll remove leftover ash and make sure there aren’t any blockages that could potentially cause a house fire.  

3. Check smoke alarms

You should check your fire alarms when you change your clocks for daylight savings; however, as most timepieces change automatically these days, consider setting a reminder on your phone calendar.